Parashat Hashavua: A House Full of Sefarim and a Tallit of Techeilet

Unfortunate Disbelief in the Coexistence of Opposites

1988 – from Siach Shaul, p. 388-390

“It Was as the Ark Traveled”

(from speech at a hachnasat sefer Torah, 1987) based on Siach Shaul, p. 374-

A Prophet for the Nations

From Siach Shaul p. 425-6

As far as spiritual power, Bilam was a giant. Chazal derive that in prophecy he was on par with Moshe. Yet, there was a huge chasm between them.

Their Origins and their Journeys, by Hashem’s Word

Their Origins and their Journeys, by Hashem’s Word

Proper and Improper Zealotry

With Desire and by Force

The gemara (Shabbat 88a) learns from the pasuk, “They stood at the bottom of the mountain” (Shemot 19:17) that He held the mountain over them like a tub, threatening them that if they did not accept the Torah, “There would be your grave.” So it turns out that after Bnei Yisrael willingly accepted upon themselves, before the Torah was given, to keep all the words of the Torah, they still needed to be threatened. Many commentaries wonder about the need for this, and several answers have been given.

Jewish Counting

Sefer Bamidbar begins with the counting of Bnei Yisrael, with a hint of military purposes (“all those who go out to the army” – Bamidbar 1:3). Rashi (ad loc. 1) mentions the other countings that were carried out, which seem important, considering that Hashem commanded Moshe to involve great people – Aharon and the heads of the tribes. What is the big idea behind this, and why is the exact manner it was done important?

They Would Grab for Themselves

The midrash (Bamidbar Rabba 22:7) notes that there are three valuable presents – wisdom, strength, and wealth – that can be a part of a person’s downfall. The examples, one Jewish and one non-Jewish, were: for wisdom, Achitofel and Bilam; for strength, Shimshon and Goliath; and for wealth, Korach and Haman. The midrash continues that the tribes of Gad and Reuven were blessed with great flocks but because they loved their money so much that they settled outside Eretz Yisrael, away from their brethren, they were the first to be exiled.

A House Full of Sefarim and a Fully Blue Garment

Korach came with two claims against Moshe (Bamidbar Rabba 18:3): Could a house full of holy books require a mezuza? Could a garment that was fully techelet (a shade of blue used in the strings of tzitzit) require tzitzit? Indeed there are two types of complaints that we have been dealing with, generation after generation, and they have broken Israel into splinters and caused discord.

Treated Like a Son – For Better and Worse

An entire parasha is dedicated to the story of Bilam and his blessings. What is the reason that Hashem decided it is so important to us?

Yehoshua – the Advantage of the Student

Moshe did not merit to enter and capture Eretz Yisrael on behalf of the nation. His disciple, Yehoshua, about whom it is said, “the lad did not abandon the tent” (Shemot 33:11) did so instead. While Moshe’s sin caused this outcome, certainly it was set from beforehand that it would be Yehoshua who would bring the people in. (We will not get into the solution to the paradox of bechira and yediah (human choice and divine foreknowledge)).

Fear of Holiness

The spies were sent to find out, among other things, whether “… there is a tree or not” (Bamidbar 13:20). Rashi explains: “Do they have a proper person, who can shield them with his merit?”

Our Type of Badad

The Menora of Wisdom

Connecting Between the People and Hashem

What’s in a Name? A Lot but Not Enough

Good Tents

Wandering … Without the Ark